SALISBURY, N.C – The Erskine College football team (0-1) began their 2021 fall season with a road loss to Catawba College, 37-27, at Shuford Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Fleet were within one possession of the Indians but could not go over the hump as they lost their season opener.
 
THE BASICS
Final | Catawba 37, Erskine 27
Records | Erskine 0-1, Catawba 1-0
Location | Salisbury, N.C. (Shuford Stadium)
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• Erskine WR Senika McKie had a monster day to open his sophomore campaign, tallying 176 yards on seven catches, including a second-quarter touchdown.
• Erskine QB Craig Pender was 19-for-32 with 334 yards and three touchdowns, as the Fleet outgained Catawba through the air, 334 to 127.
• Catawba QB Ken Avent eclipsed the 100-yard mark through the air (127 yards) and on the ground (151 yards) and had three total touchdowns.
• Brandon Lane totaled a game-high 10 tackles for the Erskine defense, while Marcelous Livington forced a fumble and Correy Masey had an interception.
• The Catawba defense forced three Erskine turnovers, two forced fumbles and an interception.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter:
Erskine began the game with the ball, but the Fleet started on the wrong feet. Taison Thomas took a carry on the first play from scrimmage and had a 24-yard scamper, but fumbled and the Indians recovered, giving them starting field position in Erskine territory just 30 seconds into the game. The Indians cashed in the early turnover as QB Ken Avent ran in for the score from 27 yards out to give Catawba an early 7-0 lead. Both teams exchanged stops before the hosts added to their lead with a 31-yard field goal to cap an eight-play drive and the Indians held a 10-0 lead with just under three minutes to go in the opening quarter.
 
Second Quarter:
Erskine's ensuing drive took over five minutes as the Fleet drove 84 yards and marched into the redzone for the first time behind a big first-down reception by J.C. Correll on a 3rd-and-9 to open the second quarter. But, the Fleet were forced to settle for a Dylan Beauford 37-yarder, which made it a 10-3 game. Catawba answered right back as they found the endzone on the following drive with an eight-play, 72-yard drive as the Indians extended their lead to 17-3 with a little more than half the quarter to go. Both defenses stood firm during the middle stages of the quarter, and the Fleet defense forced a fumble deep in Catawba territory as Marcelous Livingston jarred the ball free from the Indians' running back and Abraham Temoney picked up the loose ball, giving the Fleet a golden opportunity to cut into the Catawba lead just before the half. On the second play of the drive, Pender found McKie from 21 yards out for the touchdown and Erskine cut the deficit in half, trailing 17-10 at the break.
 
Third Quarter:
Erskine's defense gave up some yards on the opening drive of the second half, but a fourth down stop gave the ball back to the Fleet offense. Erskine went three-and-out and Catawba ran the ball on all six plays on their next drive, ending in a one-yard touchdown as the Indians regained their 14-point lead. But, Pender and the Erskine offense answered right back as the sophomore QB connected with Correll for a 27-yard touchdown to make it a 24-17 game. Then, the Erskine defense stood tall, forcing a three-and-out, and after a 22-yard run from Pender to open the drive, the QB found Yong Lee for an incredible catch-and-run for a 58-yard touchdown to tie the game at 24 heading into the final quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter:
Catawba struck back quickly as a 43-yard field goal less than a minute into the quarter gave the Indians the lead right back at 27-24. On the Fleet's ensuing drive, McKie delivered some more magic with a 35-yard reception, but the drive stalled near midfield and Erskine was forced to punt. Bennett Caldwell pinned the Indians inside their own five-yard line, but Catawba drove the length of the field with a four-minute drive capped by a touchdown and regained a double-digit lead, 34-24 at the halfway point of the final quarter. Erskine refused to go down without a fight, though, as another Pender-to-McKie connection, this time for 65 yards, set up the Fleet with first and goal. Erskine had to settle for a field goal, but were back within just one score, 34-27, with 4:43 remaining. Catawba delivered the final blow on the ensuing drive, taking over three minutes off the clock and a short field goal proved to be enough for the hosts as Erskine was defeated, 37-27, in their 2021 fall season opener.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Fleet's 2021 fall season continues, as Erskine has its first home game of the year, when they host Barton College (0-1) next Saturday, September 11 at J.W. Babb Stadium at 1:00 p.m. These teams met to begin a historical 2021 spring season for both schools, and the Fleet were victorious, 30-28 at Barton.
 
Follow the Flying Fleet all season long to get schedule updates, scores, highlights, photo galleries, game notes and more at www.erskinesports.com.
 
MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

    Visit the Official Home of Erskine Athletics at www.erskinesports.com
  
    Follow us on Social Media – Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Photos